In an Unprecedented No-Show, the U.S. Pulls Out of Planned Human Rights Hearing

The United States has pulled its participation from hearings planned for today by a regional human rights body that has enjoyed the support of every U.S. administration since its founding.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is meeting in Washington, D.C., for a regular session covering human rights issues spanning North and South America. The hearings today are scheduled to cover the Trump administration’s attempt to ban immigration from six predominantly Muslim countries, its immigration enforcement and detention policies, and its approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The ACLU is testifying on Tuesday at hearings that can be livestreamed here.

In the past, when U.S. governments have sought to express displeasure at having their records scrutinized, they have occasionally protested by sending lower-level officials. But today’s refusal to engage the commission at all is a deeply troubling indication of its disrespect for human rights norms and the institutions that oversee their protection.

The IACHR is an independent body of the Organization of American States, which brings together all 35 independent countries in the Americas. The U.S. has long been a champion of the work of the commission. While it has no enforcement mechanisms, its mandate is to promote human rights and examine violations in all OAS member states. The IACHR is often the only venue where victims of egregious human rights violations can seek a measure of recourse in the absence of accountability in their own countries. Survivors of the U.S. post-9/11 torture program have appealed to it, and even the Bush administration defended its policies before the IACHR.

The United States’ record isn’t the only one under scrutiny during this session. In the last several days, the commission has heard extensive testimony on the human rights situation in Mexico, Honduras, Panama, Chile, Bolivia, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, with additional countries to face review today and tomorrow.

After word of the U.S. absence spread, the State Department responded by stating that “it is not appropriate for the United States to participate in these hearings while litigation on these matters is ongoing in U.S. courts,” in reference to lawsuits against the government’s Muslim ban. But that doesn’t explain why it wouldn’t attend another hearing regarding a Japanese-Peruvian man who was rounded up with thousands of other Latin Americans, deported to a World War II-era internment camp, and denied redress to this day. It also doesn't explain why the Bush and Obama administrations appeared before the commission for hearings on CIA torture, Guantánamo, immigration detention, and prison issues, even though there was pending litigation at the time.

The Trump administration’s refusal to engage with an independent human rights body, which has played a historic role in fighting impunity and barbaric military dictatorships in the region, sets a dangerous precedent that mirrors the behavior of authoritarian regimes and will only serve to embolden them. It is a worrying sign that the administration, which has also said it would review future engagement with the U.N. Human Rights Council, is not only launching an assault on human rights at home. Rather it’s upping the ante and weakening the institutions that hold abusive governments accountable.

Let’s hope the no-show is temporary, and not a sign of what’s to come.

This post has been updated to reflect the State Department's response.

Impeach 45

Laura

He'd have to have a brain in order to 'brainstorm' anything.... this regime is only getting worse, and the Republicans and even the Democrats are too willing to ride along as long as THEY are profiting. I barely survived the recession and now that I finally have full time work again I don't have the resources to quit work and camp out on the doorsteps of politicians, but I'd like to see THEM survive like we did. I would not have made it without assistance from my family, my community, occasional help from food stamps, LIHEAP, a lender that helped me KEEP my small home rather than take it from me. Obamacare / the state exchange covered me while unemployed and is still covering my son, who had 3 semesters of college thanks to financial aid. Thanks to a good job, I've been back to being self-supporting for 2 yrs, but have no reserves so a disaster could crush us. I was VERY LUCKY, but what about those that don't have my family and community? Without the community and support systems, how are they going to pull out? We ARE our brothers keepers ! We need to look after those who need help and curb those who take advantage. This needs to STOP.

March 21, 2017

2:19 PM

Anonymous

I agree

March 21, 2017

7:00 PM

yougotthatright

LMAO. I was just thinking the same thing !!!

March 22, 2017

12:44 AM

GOP voter

Laura is correct. Can't have a brainstorm while lacking a brain. Only thing going through Trump's head is a steady breeze. Dimmest bulb in the box.

March 23, 2017

11:20 PM

Anonymous

" let's hope the No- show is telporary "???? Really ? Always in the beginning of everything are the best times ....if " the beginning " are these .... from here to come is going to be ONLY worst !!!

Anonymous

Anonymous

President Bannon is very busy dismantling our administrative state. I don't believe this body will see US representation under Bannon. On the other hand, there are so many unfilled positions in our government (part of the dismantling) that the Administration might not even be aware this panel is working this week.